SBCA directed to demolish illegal buildings

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has been given go ahead to start demolition action against illegally constructed buildings.

The go-ahead signal was given at a meeting held, in pursuance of orders of Supreme Court, under the chairmanship of Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani. 

Among others the meeting was attended by Director General, SBCA, Iftikhar Qaimkhani, Deputy Commissioner, South, Mohammad Salahudin and Deputy Commissioner, East, Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, Additional Director General SBCA and Chairman, SBCA Task Force, Ashkar Dawar, Directors Demolition and senior police officials. 

The area Deputy Commissioners were directed to monitor the campaign and provide support to the department. The implementation of demolition action will be carried out by the committee which will function at subdivision level and would be headed by assistant commissioners, concerned official of SBCA and police representatives. 

The SBCA force would identify such buildings required to be demolished and thereafter the demolition action committee headed by the assistant commissioner would plan action under the guidance and overall supervision of the concerned deputy commissioner.

Director General, SBCA, Iftikhar Qaimkhani briefed the meeting about the plan and informed that a task force has been formed under Ashkar Dawar, Addtional Director General, SBCA, for the implementation of the orders of Supreme Court. 

He said that the Task force has undertaken a survey of illegal under-construction and unoccupied buildings for demolition and to take other measures with the support of city administration. 

According to him altogether 326 such structures have been identified for demolition while action will also be taken against buildings raised in violation of buildings bylaws. 

Giving details, the SBCA DG informed that 31 illegal buildings have been identified in Gulberg Town, 72 in Liaqatabad Town, 13 in New Karachi Town, Six in North Nazimabad Town, 13 in Gulshan Town, four in Jamshed Town-I, 52 in Jamshed Town-II, 28 in Saddar Town-I 26 in Saddar Town -II , 54 in Lyari Town, in Malir Town, 4 in Korangi Town, 4 in Landhi Town and 3 in Bin Qasim Town. 

The meeting discussed the mechanism to be adopted for demolition operation and decided SBCA will ensure that all required legal formalities and building laws were fully followed and transparency was maintained. 

The Commissioner emphasized upon the SBCA officials to strictly follow building laws and maintain transparency. 

He warned that the SBCA would be held responsible for any complaint against of its officials for involvement in any illegal activities and favoritism and in any such case and the official, if found guilty of any offence, will be taken to task.